Convertible camp case



J. BLANK CONVERTIBLE CAMP CASE Filed May 16. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v vs/v Tm? JA co 8 BL A NK jfw fil 3 Y ATT Y5.

Dec. 4, 1923. 7

J. BLANK I CONVERTIBLE CAMP CASE Filed May 16v 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ 1 N l 3/2 i I n 2/ Q 20 INVE/TOR JA 5 LANK 4 avfifwzzwv v I ATTYS.

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED. STATES JACOB BLANK, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CONVERTIBLE CAMP CASE.

Application filed May 16, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JACOB BLANK, a citi- Zen of Russia, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of 5 California, have invented new and useful.

Improvements in Convertible, Camp Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to English camping kits and more particularly to a convertible camp case.

It is an object of the-present invention to provide a luncheon kit consisting of a main case or body section combined with means adapted to be extended to form a practical camp table.

A further object is to provide a luncheon.

kit with which are incorporated members adapted, when unfolded, to form a canopy or sun shade above the erected table or opened lunch boX..

Anotherobject is to provide a casehaving means for substantially covering such articles as may be arranged outside of. the case and which coveringmeans are adapted to be unfolded so; as to spread into a shade forming device.

Other objects will be manifest. in the following specification.

n embodiment of the invention is described in the" following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of the closed and folded elements of the lunch case;

Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the cover flaps in. unfolded relation to uncover ar ticles arranged on the body of the case.

Fig. 3, is a: perspective showing the several parts of the device unfolded and set up-to form a tableprovided with legs and form a canopy or sun shade above the table.

Fig; 4 is a. horizontal longitudinal section between the top and bottom of the bodyv of the case.

Fig. 5 is across section through the closed kit.

Fig.6 is a cross section through the device with theseveral parts in open and partly expanded condition.

F ig; 7 is a detail, substantially on. full side scale, of the compensatingpiuot link and holding device.

Fig. 8 is a section on the kerf indicated Serial No. 561,291.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the kit consists of a shell, box or body structure having side walls 22-. end

walls 3, and a bottom 4, preferably all rigidly and suitably" connected to obtain the desired strength and rigidity. The open upper part of the shell 2 is designed. to be closed by an upper and outer cover section 6 having upstanding. flanges?- at itstransverse ends and along its inner longitudinal edge. This cover is hingedly connected at 8, as is clearly shown in Fig. 6, to the top edge of a sidepanel2 and is designedtobe tilted over into the position indicated in Fig. 5, where it becomes a cover section of the case. This cover section is of somewhat less length than the inside dimensions between the end walls 3 andits end flanges 7 are designed to telescope down in between the end flanges 9 of a tray forming member 10 having along its inner edge a flange 11 which is hinged at 12.to the contiguous upper edge of a sidepanelQ of the case.

When the tray 10 is tilted to the outer position, as shown in Fig. 6, its bottom is presented upwardly while the flanges extend downwardly. WVhen thetray is turned into the case, as shown in Fig. 5, tho'flanges extend upwardly above the bottom 10, and upon the tray as thus arranged there may be stacked the various ordinary utensils commonly provided in camping kits and which include knives, forks, spoons, plates, cups, etc., indicated in Fig. 5, all neatly arranged and packed beneath the over folded cover 6.

When the case is opened to the position shown in Fig. 3, the cover-- member 6 isiirst turned outwardly and then the utensils packed upon the tray 10 may be shifted to the out folded cover 6, and after the tray has been folded outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, their the articles can be quickly distributed as desired upon the table leaf-like forming members 6 and 10. This, therefore, uncovers the interior of the case to provide access" to the contents thereor. I

Theinner cover, 6, when closed, is in turn concealedby a top or outer member 13 which may have marginal flanges. 14 around allof its edges and these are adapted to telescope down over the nested and closed sections 6 and 10,. Thefianges 9 of. ;-the' tray 10 tele scope within the end Walls 3-3 of the case and the end flanges 7 of the cover 6 in turn telescope into the flanges 9; this, therefore, providing for a compact arrangement of the members.

The outer member 13 is bodily movable as to the case structure 2-3 and is designed to be lifted vertically up from the case so as to uncover the nested cover and tray members and this capacity enables the outer member 13 to be formed into a protecting hood or shade with respect to the table when the cover 6 and the tray 10 are extended.

Suitable means are provided for connecting the hood forming section 13 to the case to permit supporting it in an up lifted position above the table arrangement. Such means may consist in alazy tongs device 15 having end links 16 connected to short links 17 which in turn are pivoted at 18 to the end flanges 14 of a hood section 13. The short links 17 provide for relative retraction and separation of the ends of the links 16, as the lazy tongs are expanded or retracted in the usual manner.

To provide for temporarily holding the hood member 13 in its elevated position, the links 17 can also be utilized as friction devices, inwhich case the swinging ends of the links 18 would include studs or pivots 19 playing in slots 20 in the end. flanges 1d of the hood section; these studs being provided with friction washers or heads 21, as indicated in Fig. 8, to obtain a desirable de gree of friction upon the contiguous surfaces so as to temporarily hold the links in their several positions and thus obviate the requirement for extraneous supporting props or other devices when the hood section 13 is elevated. Y

The lower links of the lazy tongs 15 are shown as connected to swinging arms or short link-s 22 havin pivot supports 23 and these are arranged on an inner or false panel 24, Figs. 4 and 6, spaced within the end walls 3 to provide for the nesting of the collapsed lazy tongs 15 when the hood section 13 is lowered.

From this it will be seen that the tray forming section 10 of the case is of suffi-- ciently less length than the length of the longitudinal panels 2 to swing into and out of the case just within the extended lazy tongs 15 which carry the hood section 13. In other words, the ends of the tray section 10 are designed to close just within, or just over, the false panels 241 to which the lazy tongs are pivotally connected.

For the dual purpose of forming a hood or shade structure of an apporpriate area, and for providing additional packing capacity, there is attached to the hood forming section 13 a number of foldable flaps. Along the longitudinal edges. of the section 13, Fig. 3, there are shown flaps 25, preferably having a length and width approximating the similar dimensions of the hood section 13 and, therefore, forming an area, when extended, of twice the top area of the hood section 13. To the ends of the hood section are attached other flaps 26 which may be of suitable length and are, preferably, about half the length of the section 13. The several flaps 25 and 26 are adapted to be extended into a common plane, Fig. 3, and the open angles at the corners of the section 13 are designed to be covered by wings 27 which may be permanently secured along the edges 28 of the end are adapted to be folded over on the adjacent ends of the flaps 25 to which the re spective wings may be temporarily fastened, as by button and socket fasteners indicated at 29.

From this it will be seen that a shade or hood of very considerable areacan be quickly erected and will form a protection from the sun when the outfit is in use. The extended flaps and wings may be suitably supported or braced, as, for instance, by means of extensible stiff brace members 30 movably mounted upon the hood section 13 and adapted to be expanded in retaining position with suitable keepers 31 on contiguous flap elements as 25.

hen the kit is in its compactly folded and closed condition, the end flaps 26 are folded inwardly over the hood section 13 and may then cover such articles as it is desired to carry with the kit, and which may consist of blankets or linen'as indicated at B in Fig. 3. When the end flaps 26 are inwardly folded they are then covered by the respectively over laid longitudinal flaps 25, as seen in Fig. 1, which are designed to be strapped down by half straps 32.

While the lunch kit is capable of being opened up and then supported on any pri mary support, as, for instance, when arranged directly on the ground or when suported upon an elevated surface of any convenient character, it also is capable of being supported in an elevated position by means of leg forming devices attached to the case. In the present case these legs are illustrated aslazy tongs 34 which have end links attached as at 35 to the false or inner panels 24: in the manner described with respect to the lazy tongs 15.

The lazy tongs 34; are adapted lapsed in transverse slots 36 provided therefor in the ends of the bottom 1, which are adjacent to the end walls 3 of the case. The lower links of the leg forming lazy tongs 34 are provided with foot forming members 37 which may consist of pieces of angle iron, the upper flanges of which can. be drawn into the slots 36, while the outer flanges can be drawn up close against the bottom 4: of

flaps and which to be colthe case. The lazy tongs may be held in the extended or in the retracted position by friction means including the friction ele ments 21 riding on contiguous elements as the panels 24, and similar friction elements can be utilized in the attachment of the lower ends of the lazy tongs 3&1- to the foot sections 37.

Should it be desired to prevent end swaying of the case when it is in the table forming position of Fig. 3, any suitable bracing means may be utilized and such may consist of guy wires or cords 38 attached as to the foot sections'37 and also to the bottom of the case or to the legs as may be desired, these guys 88 being arranged diagonally and crossed as shown in Fig. 3.

It is understood that any suitable brace or sustaining device might be utilized to hold the out turned members 6 and 10 and these are shown as having straight connections which may consist of flexible strings or straps as 6 limiting the inverting movement.

A positive lock to hold the lazy tongs in extended position is shown in Fig. 6 as comprising a form of hook 345* which may be pivoted on one of the intermediate pivots of the links and having its end adapted to be swung onto a contiguous stud or suitable part of an extended adjacent link as shown.

Various modifications and changes may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable top section, and means connecting the top section to, and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or hood forming position above, the case.

2. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a. movable top section, means connecting the top section to, and whereby it maybe supported in an elevated or hood forming position above, the case, and foldable flaps attached to the longitudinal and end edges of the top section and adapted to be arranged in a common plane with the section to provide a hood forming device.

3. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable top section, means connecting the top section to, and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or hood forming position above, the case, foldable flaps at tached to the longitudinal and end edges of the top section and adapted to be arranged in a common plane with the section to provide a hood forming device, and foldable wings arranged at the corners of the top section and adapted to be connected to cer tain flaps to increase the hood area.

4. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable top section, means connecting the top section to, and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or hood forming position above, the case, and means for bracing certain of the flaps in extended position.

5. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable top section, and means connecting the top section to, and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or'hood forming position above, the case, said supporting means being adapted to extend to effective position and to collapse to a concealed position in the case.

6. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable top section, and means connecting the top section to and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or hood forming position above, the case, said elevating means consisting of parallel sets of lazy tongs attached at the upper ends to the top section and attached at the lower ends to the case.

7. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable top section, means connecting the top section to, and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or hood forming position above, the case, and means for temporarily fastening the supporting means in extended position.

8. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable top section, means connecting the top section to, and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or hood forming position above, the case, and extensible leg devices attached to the case for elevating the same from the ground or other primary support so that it will form a luncheon table, said legs consisting of lazy tongs attached to the bottom portion of the case and telescopic therein, the bottom of the case being provided with slots through which the lazy tongs expand.

9. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable'top section, means connecting the top section to, and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or hood formin position above, the case, and extensible leg devices attached to the case for elevating the same from the ground or other primary support so that it will form a, luncheon table, said legs consisting of lazy tongs attached to the bottom portion of the case and telescopic therein, the bottom of the case being provided with slots through which the lazy tongs expand, and the lazy tongs have foot portions for covering the slots when said portions are retracted.

10. A luncheon kit comprising a case consisting of four connected sides and a bottom forming an open top, a movable top section to cover the open top, and leaf-like members attached to opposite parallel edges of the case and adapted each to be thrown to.

an outer position substantially in a common plane, each of said members having marginal flanges, the flanges of one tray being telescopic over those of the other in the closed position.

11. A luncheon kit comprising a case consistlng of four connected sides and a bottom forming an open top, a movable top section V to cover the open top leaf-like members attached to opposite parallel edges of the case and adapted each tobe thrown to an outer position substantially in a common plane, each of said members having marginal flanges, the flanges of one tray being telescopic over those of the other in the closed position, the foldable means connecting the top section to the case and said members being movable from an inner to an outer position between the extended foldable means.

12. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable top section, and means connecting the top section to, and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or hood forming position above, the case, the top section being provided with flaps at parallel edges which are adapted to fold over the outer face of the top section to cover objects packed uponisaid face.

13. A luncheon kit comprising a case having a movable top section, means connecting the top section to, and whereby it may be supported in an elevated or hood forming position above, the case, the top section being provided with flaps at parallel edges which are adapted to fold over the outer face of the top section to cover objects packed upon said face, and strap-like fastening means attached to the case and adapt ed to be closed over the folded flaps.

14. A luncheon kit comprising acase having a movable top section, the top section being n'ovided with flaps at parallel edges which are adapted to fold over the outer face of the top section to cover objects packed upon said face.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JACOB BLANK. 

